OFFICE LOCATION
Bogota, Colombia
Location negotiable across Latin America core countries (Bogota, Colombia; Lima, Peru; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Mexico City, Mexico; Santiago, Chile, or Sao Paulo, Brazil).
A LITTLE ABOUT US
Since 1951, The Nature Conservancy has been doing work you can believe in protecting the lands and waters that all life depends on. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive.
We’re rooted in our Mission and guided by our Values, which includes a Commitment to Diversity and Respect for People, Communities, and Cultures. We know we’ll only achieve our Mission by hiring and engaging a diverse workforce that reflects the communities in which we work. Whether it’s career development, work/life balance, or a rewarding mission, there’s lots of reasons to love life #insideTNC. Our goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all of our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging, and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued.
Although you’ll see requirements in our postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job. Passion, innovation, and diversity are all key components to advancing our Mission and we encourage you to apply.
YOUR POSITION WITH TNC
This role provides key management support to the Water Security Regional Unit Director (RU Director) in the overall successful advancement of the Water Funds (WFs) from identification, feasibility through creation, and for the efficient and effective execution of technical support assignments for WFs in operation and consolidation phases. Successful progress of the WFs requires overseeing an effective core team of water funds experts, subject matter experts (SME) and project managers, as well as consultants delivering specific products and providing quality control and program management support for the portfolio of water funds supported by the Latin America Water Funds Partnership and other partners. The manager will bring skills and tools to effectively deliver high quality projects within targeted schedules, scopes and budgets. They are the operation´s leader for TNC as the executing agency of the Latin America Water Funds Partnership (LAWFP), working in a matrixed organizational structure to provide strategic leadership and support for the Conservancy’s water fund work across the Region and coordinate with the Region´s Business Units, with the Global Resilient Watersheds team and all other relevant teams inside the Conservancy, as well as with external Partners, to successfully deliver on the Conservancy´s water fund strategy in the Region.
The employment contract is fixed term of a maximum duration of 18 months.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
The Implementation Manager (IM) will establish project management goals and success factors, and will develop and adapt project plans, budgets, metrics and schedules with input and buy-in from key stakeholders and team members. Will also critically assess project scope and objectives, ensuring all risks and dependencies are addressed in the project plans in order to deliver successful projects´ results that support the fulfillment of the objectives and achievement of key milestones and timely delivery of outputs.
Internally, the Water Funds Implementation Manager serves as the operations focal point for the Latin America Water Funds Partnership. They develop systems and processes to improve planning, budgeting, execution, coordination, communication and accountability across water funds´ project executing teams in Latin America. They are responsible for providing guidance to water funds teams and facilitating access to technical resources, identifying and removing obstacles, as well as monitoring risks and working with project teams to define and implement mitigation strategies. They are tasked with preparing operational and financial reports for the Partnership, with support from project managers, finance and grants teams. The Implementation Manager will coordinate with the Knowledge Lead to access specialized technical support from different areas of TNC, to ensure execution of projects under the science, innovative finance and policy agendas and to gather information and report impact; with the communications manager to ensure alignment to maximize positioning of water funds and of the Latin American Water Funds Partnership as a technical expert in water management and natural infrastructure solutions; with the capacity building lead to disseminate best practices and provide training to water funds and partners.
Externally, the Manager will work on a regular basis with the operational leads from IADB and Femsa Foundation as partners of the Latin America Water Funds Partnership to ensure alignment, coordination, communication and collaboration. The IM will be responsible for complying with authorization, reporting, operational and all relevant processes in place for the adequate execution of the workplans and resources. In addition to this, They will routinely engage with water funds´ managing teams across the Region to gather first-hand information on their progress, challenges and opportunities and to identify how the Partnership could better support them. They support the Regional Unit Director in the development of key partnerships with public & private organizations in order to identify and resolve technical issues and to widely communicate solutions, innovative scientific methods, analysis, tools and frameworks to address challenges and realize opportunities to support the consolidation of water funds, to ensure impact on water security and the prioritization of natural infrastructure solutions in the WFs strategies. They will support, complement and when required, stand in for the RU Director in engagements with governments, corporations, lending institutions, other non-profit groups, foundations and the academic community, to promote strategies and solutions for water funds and that can contribute to achieving the Water Fund Partnership´s overarching goal. They play a strong supporting role in champion, promoter and board member identification, and support local BU teams and the RU Director in their cultivation, and stewardship for the program. Will frequently support fund-raising efforts, particularly in developing and writing strong proposals for projects with a regional or multi-country scope of impact, that bring resources in support of the Partnership´s goals.
They will also be responsible for managing the budget allocated by IADB, FEMSA and other donors in support of the water funds portfolio in close coordination with the RU Director, the System Change Lead and supported by the Finance team. The management implies among other responsibilities preparing workplans and budget, optimizing with the support of the Finance department, the execution on the resources, prepare reports on the execution and impact of resources, monitor execution, identify risks and take corrective actions, and provide support to the Director and Philanthropy in fundraising efforts.
The Water Funds Implementation Manager directly supervises a team of 3-5 staff. They will report to the Latin America Water Security Regional Unit Director.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Project Management – Will establish project management standards, goals and success factors aligned to the Desired State of Water Funds; Recruiting, developing and coaching water funds´ project managers and SME, assisting them in overcoming obstacles, problem solving and conflict resolution. Making necessary changes in assignments and workloads to keep projects moving and taking responsibility for cost management at the program level.
- Technical Expertise – Managing and maintaining access to a network of subject matter experts inside and outside the Conservancy that can be utilized and managed by water funds´ project managers and Water Funds.
- Systems Expertise – Implementing appropriate process and management systems to support Water Fund development, project management, administrative, technical and communications functions for the Entity. Develop and implement new initiatives that will ensure project and organization-wide goals and strategies are achieved.
- Progress Reporting – Monitoring/reporting on the overall progress of the Water Fund portfolio and advising the RU Director and the LAWFP´s Board on challenges, risks and opportunities to continuously improve delivery and finding new opportunities to grow the portfolio of activities.
- Talent recruitment – Supports WFs boards and project teams, in talent identification for WFs Directors.
- Knowledge management – With support from SME identify knowledge needs and connect with Knowledge Lead to develop solutions, tools and knowledge materials.
- Accountable for the overall financial and programmatic execution of the project portfolio
- Broad management and leadership responsibility for 10+ staff members, both internal and external to the organization.
- Develops long-term strategies and achieves strategic goals and objectives
- Manages and participates in complex negotiations
- May visit conservation projects at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances.
- Makes independent operational decisions frequently based on analysis, ambiguous information, experience and judgment.
- Requires frequent travel domestically and internationally (approximately 30-50% per month), and evening and weekend hours.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree and relevant professional experience with project management and/or with portfolio management.
- Experience with organizational skills (prioritization, delegation, multitasking, etc.).
- Experience directing a major program or project of strategic importance, including management/supervision of multi-disciplinary teams and meeting deadlines, including motivating, leading, setting objectives and managing performance in a constant changing environment.
- Experience in managing and tracking multiple projects.
- Experience with financial management of a large program.
- Experience using Project Management tools, such as Microsoft Project, Celoxis, Clarizen, Primavera, Smartsheets or equivalent.
- Experience working in partnerships (partners, community, government, corporations).
- Experience negotiating contract agreements.
- Fluency in English and Spanish.
- Experienced team player – works effectively with other colleagues and stakeholders.
- Experience performing under stress.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- 6 years of professional experience managing large and complex projects involving private sector and mixed funds with national and international resources (IKI, GEF, IADB, or similar).
- Graduate-level course in project management or recognized professional certifications in Project Management such as PMP, Prince2, Agile or Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM).
- Strong verbal and written communication skills in Spanish and English.
- Strategic thinking with strong quantitative skills.
- Experience implementing a Project Management Office (PMO) within a public, non-governmental or private organization.
- Experience managing projects in multiple countries in Latin America and under multi-cultural or cross-cultural environment.
- Advanced Program/project management skills, including operational and financial management, and reporting.
- Experience in consulting or providing technical assistance.
- Experience creating and strengthening water funds.
- Experience working with current trends in water security and natural infrastructure in Latin America, implementation of Nature Base Solutions or Conservation.
- Experience supporting the negotiation of complex agreements.
- Ability to manage and implement complex processes.
- Multi-cultural or cross-cultural experiences.
- Proficiency in interpreting guidelines and manipulating, analyzing, and interpreting data.
- Strong communication and presentation skills in Spanish, English and Portuguese.
- Strong interpersonal skills, including ability to negotiate, influence, and persuade.
APPLY NOW
To apply for job ID 50464, submit your materials online by using the Apply Now button at https://careers.nature.org/. Need help applying? Visit our recruitment page or contact [email protected].
The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to diversity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.
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TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please send a note to [email protected] with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.
